10th International Aerosol Conference September 2 - September 7, 2018 America's Center Convention Complex St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Abstract View
A Pilot Study of Air Quality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María
NIRMALA THOMAS, Leonardo Calderón, Shahnaz Alimokhtari-V, Samuel Barreto Rios, Benjamin Bolaños-Rosero, Carlos M. Rodríguez-Minguela, Mayra Roubert, Clifford Weisel, Brian Buckley, Gediminas Mainelis, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Abstract Number: 579 Working Group: Health Related Aerosols
Abstract Hurricane María is considered the deadliest storm of the hyperactive 2017 Atlantic hurricane season and one of the most intense tropical cyclones worldwide in the last year. It hit Puerto Rico (PR) as a strong Category 4 hurricane causing catastrophic damage across the Island.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, there were potential risks for increased exposures to emissions from diesel generators and microbial pollutants, as a result of the collapse of the Island's power grid and the severe water damage endured to buildings and housing structures. A rapid environmental response team from Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA) collaborated with University of Puerto Rico (Medical Sciences Campus and Mayagüez, PR) and Ponce Health Science University (PR) to evaluate the impact of the hurricane’s landfall on biological and non-biological air quality parameters in PR and potential risk to human health.
A total of 10 sites consisting of 7 outdoor and 3 indoor locations were investigated in December of 2017 from San Juan to Ponce, PR. Among them, two EPA air quality-monitoring sites were used as references to compare the current air quality parameters with historical data. Biological and non-biological aerosol concentrations (mass concentrations of PM2.5 and particle number concentrations of 0.3-10μm and >10μm), volatile organic compounds, and various gases (e.g., CO2, CO, NO2, O3, and NO2) were measured. Additionally, a passive bioaerosol sampler (Rutgers Electrostatic Passive Sampler, or REPS) and several low-cost particulate matter sensors (Air Visual) collected data for approximately two weeks.
Total outdoor mold concentration (#/m3) ranged from less than 103 to 3x104 and was dominated by allergenic Ascospores and Basidiospores species. Indoor sites showed elevated total mold concentrations of up to 8x104 #/m3 including toxin-producing Aspergillus and Cladosporium species, with no significant difference in the total concentration between outdoor and indoor sites (p>0.05). Indoor and outdoor sites registered both culturable bacteria and mold concentrations above 4881 #/m3 (saturation level). The SidePak personal aerosol monitor (TSI, Inc.) detected PM2.5 mass concentrations of up to 84 μg/m3 indoors and up to 72 μg/m3 outdoors. Two of the Air Visuals and the SidePak monitor at one of the outdoor sites located in southeastern PR also showed similar PM2.5 levels. REPS captured biological particles using a ferroelectric polymer film (PVDF) and the post-sampling eluted liquid (40 mL) had concentrations of up to 5x106 biological particles/mL.
These results suggest high concentrations of both biological and non-biological aerosols in certain local communities leading to health concerns. Future studies will address PR air quality and the resulting health effects in more detail.